10 PM Current Affairs Quiz #55 January 7, 2020

Explanation: On Tuesday, the number of deaths in the US caused due to the mysterious respiratory illness linked to vaping and e-cigarettes rose to 55, Reuters reported. As of December 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a US federal agency, has reported 2,561 cases across the country who have suffered from the illness. In September 2019, the Indian government banned the production, import, distribution, and sale of electronic cigarettes, with penalties ranging from Rs 1-5 lakh fine and 1-3 years imprisonment. The CDC is tentatively referring to the disease as EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury).

Explanation: The population of the saltwater or estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) has increased in the water bodies of Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park and its nearby areas in Kendrapara district, with forest officials counting 1,757 individuals in this year’s annual reptile census on January 3, 2020. It is in Kendrapara district of Odisha. It is inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, Pathsala. It is the second-largest mangrove ecosystem in India, the first being Sundarbans (West Bengal). It has been designated as a Ramsar Site.

Explanation: Zonal Councils are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganization Act, 1956. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will co-chair the next meeting of the Western Zonal Council (WZC), which will have, among other issues, women safety on top of the agenda. The 25th meet of the council will be held this month under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The council, functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Inter-State Council Secretariat, comprises Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Explanation: The third international conference on marine ecosystems – challenges and opportunities (MECOS-3) will be held in Kochi, Kerala from January 7 to 10,2019. The Conference is organized by the Marine Biological Association of India. The conference is aimed at reviewing the concerns involved in marine ecosystem and formulating strategies for the better and sustainable utilisation of marine wealth by enhancing livelihood options. It will also serve as a platform for discussions on a range of topics, including the impact of the climate crisis on marine ecosystems and an unusual warming of the Arabian Sea.

Explanation: CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) has developed a new low-cost technology to produce Geranium saplings. Geranium plant is originally from South Africa and is predominantly used in manufacturing essential oils. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent. It also has several medicinal values. In India, the plant is cultivated in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and North Eastern Regions.